So I have been in the Philippines for more than 3 weeks and it is hard to believe that I will be packing up shortly! It feels like just yesterday we were getting off the plane.
I've made my first real friends on the race here in Angono, besides people off our squad that is. I am really going to miss them. Don't get me wrong, I miss the kids from Casa de mi Padre (the orphanage in Guatemala), waking up at 4:45 am to pray with Pastor Victor in Honduras, our hilarious contact in Nicaragua, Jaime, along with countless others, but Aeron & Lira have been two true friends to me this month. (I live on the roof of their house/ the church).
There is a special bond that comes from running around the holy garden, also known as the local cemetery, at six in the morning. As well as following our run with a free aerobic dance class led by a middle aged Filipino woman on the grassy graves. Apparently it's hosted every Saturday there. I'm sad that I will miss the kickboxing class next week, but Aeron said he will let me know how it goes. Today we did the cha cha and gangnam style dance, as well as laughed nonstop. I can't think of a better way to start my day.
Aeron is studying civil engineering and is going to turn 21 on Christmas! 🙂 Lira is studying English literature and just turned 20 last week. They are both musically talented and compose half of the worship band in Kalayaan Christian Church. They are the children of our contact, Pastor Arman (the whole family is absolutely great).
Aeron and Lira have showed me old photo albums and shared childhood memories with me. They have introduced me to their friends and allowed me to hang out with all of them. They have taught me some Tagalog and formed inside jokes with me. They woke up at 4:30 in the morning to take me and two other teammates to the nearby mountain to see the sunrise.
I've gotten to celebrate Lira's birthday with her and teach Sunday school alongside of her. I've enjoyed singing along with Aeron as he plays different worship songs (in English!) on the stairs, as well as before, during and after church. I've also had the privilege of introducing them to the game Zip-Bong and playing it with them.
I have loved getting to know them and will miss them dearly as we begin our travels to Thailand in 7 hours!
Please continue to pray for the city of Angono during this holiday season. Pray that they would experience Jesus and discover the hope and joy that He is. Pray that they would come to know him as their Redeemer and the Mighty One to save. Ask that the Lord would meet their greatest (Him) and that He would reveal Himself further through tangible blessings.
